External facing; Principal Architect – Microsoft Cloud; Azure, Data & AI

Job Description

Role Overview

We are hiring a Microsoft Center of Excellence Lead or a Solutions Technical Leader to define and drive the technical strategy for our Microsoft business globally.

This is a senior, externally facing leadership role at the intersection of:

• Executive technology leadership
• Azure, Data, and AI architecture
• Strategic deal shaping and co-innovation with Microsoft

You will act as the technical face of Publicis Sapient to clients and Microsoft, shaping complex pursuits, influencing innovation, and scaling repeatable solutions across the Microsoft ecosystem.

What You'll Own:

CoE Leadership & Technical Strategy

• Lead the Microsoft Center of Excellence, defining technical vision across Azure, Data, AI, and Copilot
• Establish a clear, differentiated POV aligned to Microsoft priorities and solution plays
• Represent Publicis Sapient in CxO-level conversations and strategic Microsoft engagements

Strategic Deal Shaping & Commercial Impact

• Lead technical strategy for large, complex, multi-million-dollar transformation deals
• Shape solution architecture, win themes, and technical differentiation in priority pursuits
• Translate Microsoft platform capabilities into clear business outcomes and commercial value
• Drive alignment between architecture decisions and Azure consumption, platform adoption, and client ROI

Enterprise Architecture – Microsoft Intelligent Cloud

• Define and guide enterprise architectures across:
• Azure (IaaS, PaaS, containers, integration, modernization)
• Data Platforms (Microsoft Fabric, analytics ecosystems)
• AI & Copilot (Azure OpenAI, AI Studio, ML, Copilot stack)
• Agentic AI frameworks (Copilot Studio, Semantic Kernel)
• Ensure solutions are secure, scalable, resilient, and cost-optimized
• Establish reference architectures, reusable patterns, and architecture decision frameworks
• Validate high-risk designs through hands-on prototyping and POCs

Global V-Team Orchestration

• Orchestrate cross-functional v-teams across sales, engineering, delivery, partners, and Microsoft stakeholders
• Operate effectively in a matrixed, global environment, leading without formal authority
• Align regional and global teams around technical strategy, execution, and outcomes

Innovation & "First-of" Solution Leadership

• Lead first-of-their-kind and high-ambiguity transformation programs
• Co-innovate with Microsoft and clients to bring emerging technologies into production
• Build rapid prototypes and differentiated demos to accelerate decision-making
• Convert innovative work into repeatable assets and scalable offerings

Co-Sell, Solution Plays & Scalable IP

• Build co-sell-ready, repeatable solutions aligned to Microsoft solution areas and solution plays
• Develop scalable offerings that drive joint pipeline, revenue growth, and market differentiation
• Create reusable IP, accelerators, demo libraries, and reference architectures
• Ensure alignment to Microsoft GTM motions and ecosystem priorities

Microsoft Ecosystem Leadership

• Build deep relationships across Microsoft sales, partner, customer success, and engineering teams
• Align to Microsoft priorities, co-sell motions, and industry solution plays
• Provide field insight to influence Microsoft product direction and innovation
• Represent client needs in joint Microsoft engagements

Internal Technical Leadership

• Act as the technical "north star" across sales, pre-sales, and engineering
• Elevate capabilities across Azure architecture, AI solutioning, and modern engineering practices
• Coach teams to build scalable, differentiated, and executable solutions

What You Bring:

Experience

• 12+ years in enterprise architecture, CoE leadership, or senior technical leadership roles
• Proven track record shaping and winning large, complex transformation deals
• Experience operating as a trusted advisor to C-suite stakeholders

Microsoft Technical Expertise:

Hands-on depth across:

• Azure platform (infrastructure, platform services, integration, modernization)
• Data platforms (Fabric, analytics, enterprise data ecosystems)
• AI platforms (Azure OpenAI, AI Studio, ML, Copilot ecosystem)

Track record delivering:

• Enterprise-scale cloud architectures
• Production-grade AI solutions
• Scalable, repeatable solution patterns

Commercial & Executive Capability

• Ability to translate technology into business value, commercial outcomes, and platform growth
• Strong executive communication and storytelling skills
• Experience linking technical strategy to client transformation and Microsoft ecosystem growth

Leadership Profile

• Strong cross-industry perspective with pattern recognition and reuse
• Ability to lead through ambiguity and pioneer new solution spaces
• Proven experience orchestrating global teams and partner ecosystems

Preferred Differentiators

• Microsoft certifications (Azure Architect, AI Engineer, Data Engineer)
• Established relationships across the Microsoft ecosystem
• Experience with Copilot, GenAI, and agentic AI architectures
• Proven track record building scalable IP and co-sell solutions
• Thought leadership across events, publications, or industry forums
• Industry…